Stepping into the role of Interim President on September 11 will be both a profound honor and a natural continuation of the work we have been doing together. Serving as Executive Director of Advancement has allowed me to get to know so many of you personally, learning firsthand what Antioch means to our extended family of alumni and supporters. That groundswell of care and commitment is our greatest asset. As we take this next step forward, I want to share a summary of our FY26 Office of Advancement achievements; they are a testament to what your support makes possible.
With a metric driven, operationalized plan in FY26, Advancement team members set out to strengthen the College’s core revenue needs of funding operating expenses, expanding scholarship aid, and restoring essential campus facilities. At the conclusion of the fiscal year, the College had raised $7.2 million in total commitments. Supporting this momentum was a vote of confidence from leadership, with the Board of Trustees reaching 100% participation in giving and completing a $1M giving challenge.
Major Gifts and Grassroots Support Drive Growth
Philanthropic support was powered by major investments and broad-based annual giving, along with increased grant support. Major gifts (contributions of $50,000 or more) delivered more than $3.3 million in direct support, with an additional $2.3 million in signed pledges and $3.7 million in proposals currently awaiting decisions. More than $650,000 was secured in grants.
Simultaneously, Antioch’s annual giving campaigns saw active alumni participation, generating $1.5 million against a $1.4 million target. Standout efforts included:
The Million Dollar March Match: Generous supporters pushed this high-stakes campaign past its target to reach $513,460.
End of Calendar Year Drive: Alumni rallied to raise $346,000, easily outpacing the $250,000 goal.
Targeted Student Support: Focused mini-campaigns delivered critical wins, including $26,500 raised for the Shelby Chestnut Student Scholarship and $37,857 to assist incoming students with enrollment deposits.
175-Year Campaign Hits Key Student Milestones
The fundraising success closely aligns with broader goals established for the Demisemiseptcentennial Campaign, which commemorates Antioch’s 175-year legacy. The campaign’s overarching $17.5 million fundraising goal was achieved with $17.95 million raised.
More importantly, the campaign’s impact is already visible across campus life. The College successfully hit two major experiential learning benchmarks, securing 1,750 Co-op placements since reopening and logging 75,000 student work hours as a Federal Work College. Meanwhile, with enrollment reaching 134 in Winter 2026, the College remains focused on reaching its 175-student goal. Although that number will not be reached this fall, the College continues to focus efforts on increasing enrollment and has invested in a new position of Executive Director of Enrollment Management and Marketing.
Rebuilding Alumni Engagement for the Future
As the College looks ahead, Alumni Relations is navigating a period of transition and reorganization following staffing changes in the department. College leadership is actively reshaping its alumni outreach strategy with an emphasis on transparency, restored communication, and peer-to-peer connection.
Immediate priorities include engaging alumni chapters and groups, increasing communication, and strengthening collaboration with the Antioch College Alumni Board to deliver robust, well-coordinated Reunion programming.
In reference to Reunion, more than 120 alumni attended the 2026 Reunion FEAST! Attendees donated over $120,000 during the Fund a Need Dinner, generating support for several high-impact campus projects, including faculty professional development, climate control improvements for North and Birch, a welcoming new entrance to the Foundry Theater, landscaping equipment, and continued restoration of the Main Building and Kelly Hall. Although most of the projects were fully funded, there are named spaces within Main Building and Kelly Hall that are still available.
Thank you for making this year’s Reunion not only a celebration of shared history, but a meaningful investment in Antioch’s future. You can see photos and recordings from the Reunion on our website. Mark your calendars for the 2027 Reunion, scheduled for July 22-25.
Through every transition and milestone, the steady support of the Antioch alumni network remains the College’s bedrock, ensuring Antioch’s distinct model of social justice driven experiential education continues to thrive.